Sorrow, joy mixed at wake of long-missing Dufresne

LEOMINSTER — Joy at the return of a lost soldier was mixed with the sorrow of his loss at a wake Friday night in City Hall auditorium for Pfc. Norman P. Dufresne.

A steady line of mourners passed through the auditorium, greeting family members and viewing photographs and memorabilia of the soldier who was missing in action for 63 years until a formal identification was made in August.

Pfc. Dufresne's remains lay in state during the wake in a coffin in front of the stage. Members of the National Guard honor team and local veterans stood at attention next to the coffin as people passed by. A wreath on the stage behind it had the logo of the 24th Infantry Division, in which he was serving when he went missing.

"I'm overwhelmed," said Claire Weber of Lake Zurich, Ill., Pfc. Dufresne's only surviving sibling. "The city of Leominster where I grew up has been wonderful about this."

Mrs. Weber was a year younger than her brother and had gone into nursing when he went off to war. She said she had always wished she could have seen him again.

"When my mother and father were both alive, we always prayed for him. We prayed every Memorial Day, every Veterans Day," she said.

It wasn't until this year that she learned her brother had finally been identified.

Almost half the hall was filled with relatives of Pfc. Dufresne, many from Leominster, but also traveling from as far away as Florida.

Although most never knew him, all were overjoyed that he had finally been identified.

"This is overwhelming," said Norman Membrino of Lunenburg, a nephew of Pfc. Dufresne.

Mr. Membrino said his mother was pregnant with him when the family learned his uncle was missing in action.

"My grandmother went to my mother and asked that if she had a son, if she would name it Norman," he said.

Mr. Membrino remembers the sadness his grandmother suffered, hoping that, against the odds, her son would return.

"My grandmother used to wait in the parlor and expect him to come through the door," he said.

Mr. Membrino said he was glad so many family members could attend, especially his aunt Claire.

"I'm so glad she was able to see this," he said.

Mr. Membrino said one of the sad parts of the story was that his uncle died after signing up for a second tour in the military. He said he signed up to be with his brother Ernest, but was sent to Korea. His brother was in Germany.

Mayor Dean Mazzarella said it was amazing to see all the people who turned out to show their respects to the Dufresne family.

"The last couple of days have been emotional ones for a lot of people," he said. "This has touched a lot of people, even those who never knew him."

At the wake, the family received a citation and other awards from state and local officials and from veterans and other organizations. Among the awards presented were three medals from the Army. After Pfc. Dufresne's remains were identified, he was awarded the Purple Heart, which was presented by representatives of the Army. The family also received the Army Good Conduct Medal and the Combat Infantryman's Badge.

Contact George Barnes at george.barnes@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @georgebarnesTG.